Albury's mayor says there's no evidence to support Victorian government changes that have created "a virtual hard border".
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Kevin Mack said introducing permits for border bubble travel just created more issues for a community that hadn't recorded a COVID-19 case for more than a year.
"To be honest, it's not surprising, the numbers in Sydney aren't going backwards," he said.
"I sympathise with the lockdown in Melbourne and I understand the importance of the health setting, but we're the meat in the sandwich yet again.
"We've got two different states having different approaches to the same problem and we're confused."
Wodonga mayor Kev Poulton advised calm after Wednesday's permit announcement, adding Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes and Victorian Cross Border Commissioner Luke Wilson had contacted him about it.
"Definitely a first to have direct contact from minister level to say, hey, this is what's going to be happening," he said.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"They've explained it to me as a way to capture data to really understand what happens in a cross-border community, but then also if there is something they need to alert us all, they'll be able to do so through the Service Victoria app.
"Ultimately I think we don't need to panic just at the moment, it's one extra little administration step to get a permit.
"We'll cross our fingers and hope their systems hold up because we've been through this before from either state."
Cr Mack disputed the need for more changes and described the state line as a hard border.
"It's heading that way if it isn't that way, it's a virtual hard border, see it for what it is," he said.
The mayor pointed to the region's COVID-free record and lack of evidence Border police were intercepting people fleeing hot spots.
"We need to think about it based on the data, based on the information and based on the rationale, and if you can get three out of three there, you do what you're doing," he said.
"But right now I can't see the data, I can't see the rationale and I can't see why we're doing it."
"I'm just appalled that people would think at this point in time that that's OK and also it's taking vaccines off people in Albury which I also don't agree with," Dr Chant said.
"There is plenty of access to vaccine in Sydney and I don't see that that's a reasonable reason to travel many hours for that."
Cr Mack had not heard of such examples but "if it's happening it's because they're panicking and they want to get vaccinated, which is not a bad thing but it's not ideal that they're coming into the border zone to do that".
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark https://www.bordermail.com.au/
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @bordermail
- Follow us on Instagram @bordermail
- Follow us on Google News.